Chapter 84: Overwhelming Others with Power (Part One)

"Alright, now you can call out your manager, can't you?"

"Please... please wait a moment!" With that, the young attendant turned and hurried off toward the inn's rear courtyard without so much as a backward glance.

As the largest chain inn in the Yanhuang Empire, the Joyful Inn was naturally far more than a mere commercial establishment. While amassing vast wealth, it had also recruited numerous experts. It was precisely because the Joyful Inn possessed considerable martial strength that it had managed to avoid being swallowed by other powers and ultimately achieved its current success.

If Zhou Tian were to face the entire Joyful Inn enterprise, he would stand no chance at all. But now, he was dealing with nothing more than a single branch. The swordsmen stationed within had already been handled by Zhou Tian and Aphra, so he no longer needed to worry about any resistance from them.

It wasn't long before the attendant returned, accompanied by a rotund man whose face was wreathed in a cheerful smile.

Upon seeing the fat manager, Zhou Tian couldn't help but reveal a hint of disappointment. He had imagined the manager of the Joyful Inn as someone quite different. According to the usual progression of such stories, the manager should have been a stunning beauty at this moment! Yet reality presented him with someone who was not only no beauty but weighed well over three hundred pounds. Watching the man's jiggling flesh, and comparing it to the scenario he'd pictured in his mind, Zhou Tian simply couldn't keep his composure.

"My lord, what brings you to our humble inn? If only you'd sent word ahead, I could've come out to welcome you properly!" The fat manager, seemingly oblivious to the swordsmen groaning on the floor, waved them away and then offered Zhou Tian a standard smile.

"You know I've become the lord of Border Town?"

"Heh, heh!" Smirking with pride, as if to show off, the fat manager looked at Zhou Tian and said, "Joyful Inn has branches not only here, but in every city across the Yanhuang Empire. Our branches share information, so although word of your appointment as Border Town's lord hasn't officially spread here yet, I've already received news from Xuanwu City."

"I see." As though he hadn't noticed the underlying meaning in the man's words, Zhou Tian glanced at the manager and replied coldly, "Since your information network is so well-connected, I'm sure you're aware of the Windstorm Mercenary Corps' situation. You were involved back then. I won't ask for much—just as with the mercenary corps, I want you to return my belongings a hundredfold. If you do that, I'll let bygones be bygones."

"My lord, what do you mean by that?" The fat manager's face turned cold as he met Zhou Tian's gaze fearlessly. "I don't know what you're referring to. I'm just a humble manager of Joyful Inn. We simply conduct business honestly. If you have clear evidence, feel free to bring it to me. But if you don't, well... Joyful Inn may not rival the Church of Light, but we're not people to be trifled with. Without solid proof, no one can touch me."

"Is that so?" Hearing this, Zhou Tian nodded in acknowledgment, then abruptly turned and pulled the fuming Aphra away.

Such an anticlimax!

The fat manager knew trouble was brewing the moment Zhou Tian sought him out. Though he brandished the Joyful Inn banner, unafraid of what Zhou Tian might do, he was well aware that his past actions wouldn't stand up to scrutiny. If anyone really dug up something, he'd be done for.

Thus, while he appeared tough during their conversation, his heart was pounding. His original plan was to leverage Joyful Inn's reputation to make Zhou Tian hesitate, then, once Zhou Tian recognized his influence, offer to return the ill-gotten gains and resolve their past grievances. Unexpectedly, the moment he showed a bit of backbone, Zhou Tian simply turned and left. Zhou Tian's odd reaction left the manager uneasy.

As expected...

Of course Zhou Tian wouldn't simply give up because of a few words from the fat manager. Not long after Zhou Tian departed, a group of soldiers marched into the Joyful Inn.

Seeing the soldiers, the fat manager instinctively sensed trouble. Yet, relying on old habits, he still smiled and approached them.

"Gentlemen, what brings you to Joyful Inn?"

"You must be the manager. Gather all your staff. We've received reports that there are imperial fugitives hiding in your inn. The lord has ordered us to inspect all guests. Please cooperate!"

In the past, these soldiers would always curry favor with the manager. But now, they ignored him and loudly called for all guests to come out.

Witnessing this, the fat manager's face darkened considerably.

In the end, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and comply with the soldiers. Firstly, Zhou Tian wouldn't have acted so boldly unless he was fully prepared. If he dared refuse, Zhou Tian would likely attack immediately. Secondly, this world wasn't like Earth—the empire's authority wasn't nearly as absolute. Though the lord had issued the order, some powerful professionals would never submit. The manager was happy to see Zhou Tian clash with some of the inn's guests.

"How dare you! Who let you in here? Get out!"

"Bang!"

"Get lost!"

Things unfolded as the manager anticipated. When the soldiers barged into the rooms to apprehend suspects, most guests cooperated and emerged with their luggage. However, some stronger professionals refused outright, not only declining to cooperate but some even attacking the soldiers directly.

Although the soldiers of Border Town were considered elite, given its proximity to the dangerous Monster Forest, they were still just soldiers. Compared to the professionals, they were simply not on the same level. Despite their overwhelming numbers, once battle broke out, the soldiers were quickly tossed one after another into the main hall by the professionals.

Just as the fat manager was secretly delighted at the soldiers' misfortune, a female swordsman with a long sword entered the Joyful Inn...